Rishi Sunak humiliated by ITV interview query that reveals he is ‘out of contact’
Rishi Sunak has been branded “out of touch” after saying he went without lots of things as a kid – including Sky TV.
In an excruciating interview with ITV the PM, who attended one of the country’s most expensive boarding schools, was quizzed on his vast wealth. Last month Mr Sunak and his wife Askshata Murty’s personal fortune increased by more than £120million – overtaking King Charles in the Sunday Times Rich List.
During a 30-minute exchange with ITV Tonight presenter Paul Brand, Mr Sunak was asked: “Have you ever gone without something?” The Tory leader replied:” Yes, I mean, my family emigrated here with very little. And that’s how I was raised. I was raised with the values of hard work.”
Pushed on what he’d gone without as a child, Mr Sunak said: “Oh, we went without lots of things because my parents wanted to put everything into our education and that was a priority.” But when asked what sort of things had to be sacrificed, he could only say: “Lots of things.” He then laughed.
As Mr Brand pressed him to give an example, he said: “All sorts of things like lots of people. There’ll be all sorts of things that I would’ve wanted as a kid that I couldn’t have.” He added: “Famously, Sky TV, so that was something that we never had growing up actually.”
Responding to the interview, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Every time the PM opens his mouth he shows how out of touch he is. His government has impoverished millions, but that’s OK because he had to do without Sky Sports as a kid.”
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson added: “If Rishi Sunak is really that gutted that he didn’t have Sky TV at home, surely he’ll be backing the Liberal Democrats‘ plans for free-to-air football coverage. Younger generations should not be priced out of watching sport.
“Rishi Sunak has shown time after time that he is out of touch. The Conservatives have taken voters for granted and it’s time they were kicked out of office.”
The comedian Jason Manford also said: “Why do they pretend that their upbringing was worse than it was! We see right through you! A more compassionate answer would’ve been ‘look, my parents worked hard & I was fortunate to have a warm house & food on the table & I want to make sure every child in the UK has that too.”
